Baby Welcoming, Naming, and Blessing Ritual

This ritual was written for a priest/ess to preside over, or some person other than the parents (perhaps a treasured grandparent, or the oldest member of the family). It takes place in a witches circle.

My background is non-Wiccan, but I am a witch (perhaps a natural witch? i have never known the nature of the universe to be any other way) with Celtic, (some mystic Christian), some shamanistic stuff and a lot of stuff from my imagination. I used some words from The Pagan Family (by Ceisiwr Serith), but I don't think enough so that its illegal. The major passage of the blessing is OkanaÕs (Okana@aol.com), and I give her all the credit for it, and thank her very very much. The ritual would have been nothing without it.

You should absolutely adjust any and all of this to your own trad.

Please don't reprint this anywhere without letting me know. Part of it belongs to Okana. I ask that you let me know where and dont give credit to anyone else.

I hope you find this useful. ---RC Drake (Soocmit@aol.com)

Keep the child off the ground until it is one hundred and one days old, and on that night the ritual should be performed (the child will be ritually placed on the ground).

The ritual must NOT take place during the waning moon.

The altar is in the middle of the circle, and it should have:

one white candle to represent the child, placed in the center
two things to represent the childs moon sign and sun sign
two things to represent the childs mother and father
a food with carbohydrates (french fries, oatmeal cookies, crackers, rice), and a non-fizzy drink that goes good with the food should be on the altar (or underneath it-- my altar has a shelf)

One candle to represent the complete Divine universal force (as this child can not tell us which representation of the divine universal force she believes is most correct, two god and goddess candles wouldnt be fair).

There should be dirt or a rock for earth, water in a shell, a feather for air and a small candle or incense for fire.

The elemental stuff should be put around the edges of the altar. they should be placed at five "corners" even if the altar is round, the fifth "corner" marked by the divine universal force candle. The fathers representative object should be about halfway in from the outside of the altar, and next to it the childs moon sign representative, then the mothers representative, and then the childs sun sign representative. They should be an even distance apart from each other, forming a circle around the childs candle. Put the food where you want to.

Light the lamps (i use oil lamps so we can see in the dark; our rituals are outside) and set up the altar.

Gather the people participating (people who dont wish to enter the circle can stand outside of it forming a non magickal circle behind the people who will form the magickal circle).

Sweep the circle into existence (I use a broom).

Lay the broom out for the door.

Cut it open and step into doorway.

This circle is cast between worlds.

"I cast out from here all impurities and uncleanness of the spirits of phantasm, destruction and Chaos or any other influences not for the free will of all. Blessings be upon this circle; let all malignity and hindrance be cast forth thence from, and let all good enter therein. Beings of astral birth are welcomed here; may you enter of your own free will. Aid us in our magic tonight, and enjoy our celebrations."

"This be my will, true and free. I do so will, so mote it be."

Step through.

Participants enter (they should stand at the edges of the circle, facing in).

Greet them one at a time at the door with these words:

"Do you enter this magic circle of your own free will?

"Do you understand the Law of Three?

"By what name do you wish to be called here?

"Enter."

Address the group:

"Merry Meet."

Light the candle for the child.

Invoke the deities.

"In this night and in this hour, I call upon the ancient power. Goddess Diana and Consort Lucifer, you so bright, I ask thee now to bring your light. Harming none and helping all, Lord and Lady hear my call."

Light the "divine force" candle.

Speak your purpose.

"Earth Mother, and Sun Father, tonight we introduce to you a child brought forth by a woman and man in love. We ask your presence here to witness and empower the blessings we wish to bestow upon her."

Call the childs ancestors.

"I invite those of this childs bloodline who are not of the physical world to witness and celebrate her arrival here, in spirit."

Summon the mother (who should be holding the child) and the father.

"May the God and Goddess, whose love gives birth to the world, guide you through your life as parents."

Take the child and place her feet to the ground.

"Little one, you are now a true child of the Earth. Your name on Earth shall be Kyle Jesse Yaselevich, until you can choose your own.

Gaea welcomes you."

Put the baby back into her parents arms. Have them go to the "back" of the circle, so that everyone can see them. The MotherGuide and FatherGuide which have been chosen for the baby by the parents should stand on either side of the parents and baby. Face the parents and Parentguides. Summon the Parentguides forward. The mother and father should hand you the baby. Speak to the Parentguides.

"You are asked to represent the Divine in this childs eyes. You must open up many paths before her, show her the ways he may take, help her choose that which she will, and once she is on her path, guide her so that she does not lose her way. You must also be second parents, ready to counsel and to celebrate with her. You must always be there when needed, and give unconditional love. Do you wish to be her Guide?"

They answer.

"May the Lord and Lady inspire you to guide the child."

Hand the baby to them. They hand her to the parents. The parents present her to you (but they should hold her), and you address her.

"May each day's golden sunrise breathe life into your quest for knowledge ...and mid-day's red fire strengthen your courage and teach you trust. May the healing of cool sunset waters bathe you with caring plans for the future ... and you be wrapped in a midnight blanket of gratitude and wisdom. May you dance in the rhythms of Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon... and feel abundance and stability from the warm comfort of Mother Earth. May you soar to reach lofty goals with the graceful flight of the Winged Ones... and know instinctively like the Creature Beings when to work and laugh, sleep and play. May your talents and abilities blossom like the beautiful plants of the Standing Tribe ...and your voice discern whether to speak or keep silent from the record-keeping Stone People. May you humbly learn the magnitude of the universe at the feet of the twinkling Star Nation ...and take joy in the luminous tapestry woven of people of all colors, languages, and beliefs. May your innocence forever help you to see the world of Little People and other folk... and the Truth radiate from Within and around you to guide you on your Path. May the Medicine and Miracle of these gifts brighten and nourish your Spirit ... and may Love embrace you all of your days, and forever after. May the Circle of Life bless you with its Rainbow of Peace!"

Light the childs candle. There should be celebration including dancing, in which the baby should be the focal point. Then honor the God and Goddess.

"Dear Lady, Bright Lord, we have honored you tonight by bringing to you a new life, a loved child, so you may witness her safe arrival from another world. Now I dedicate this good food to you, my Lord, and this drink to my Lady.

As we partake of it, we bind your love and power to all that has happened here tonight, in this world between worlds, and thank you beyond expression for the beautiful child you have brought to us."

The mother and father should then thank the God and Goddess by leaving a gift of some sort.

"Accept this gift as our offering of thanksgiving. May we walk together towards the light always."

The other people participating should take this time to ground and also to give their blessings and any gifts to the parents and baby. And of course, they should eat. After everyones done and ready you should close the circle. Open the doorway and escort each out, saying:

"Merry part and merry meet again."

After everyone else is out of the circle, escort the parents out, wishing them good luck. Carry the baby through the doorway yourself and then hand him to his parents. Stay in the circle, though. Then address the "beings of astral birth."

"Lord, Lady, and beings of astral birth, I grant you go if you may, stay if you will. The circle is open..."

Pick up the broom from the doorway and sweep backwards, following the same path from when you opened it. When you get to the doorway say :